Lemon slice coasters

When I saw these on The Purl Bee I had to make them.  So cute.  And I have a set of lemon and lime slice salt and pepper shakers that didn't know they had missing coaster cousins.

Too perfect. 

All You Need Is Love card

Wow, we know a couple celebrating their silver anniversary this week!  That's pretty amazing.   We'll be celebrating three years next month and that seems like a long time to me, let alone 25 years.  This occasion to me meant a simple but elegant card.

Supplies:

Cricut Machine or access to one such as in a scrapbooking store
Cartridge - Love Struck 2010
Card stock paper in white
A small sheet of vellum paper in silver
Alphabet stamps
Red ink
Craft glue

Directions:

Cut one of the following:

4 1/2" heart2 from Love Struck 2010 in white cardstock

Using white cardstock cut out one piece that measures 11 1/2" x 5".  Fold this at 5 1/2"  This will create the base of the card with a small overlap.  I used my stamps to then write their names on the overlap with a heart stamp in between.  Glue your white heart to the front.  Then cut the vellum at 5" x 4 1/2" and glue it to the inside.  Again, I used my stamps to write my message.

Dunkin' Donuts Father's Day Card

Few dad's can go without their cup of joe in the morning including my father-in-law who is a die hard fan of Dunkin' Donuts.  What better way to celebrate Father's Day then with a gift card to his favorite place and a cute matching card to go with it.

Supplies:

Cricut Machine or access to one such as in a scrapbooking store
Cartridges - Just Because Cards, Don Juan and Wild Card
Card stock paper [orange, pink, white and brown]
Craft glue


Directions:

Cut one of each of the following:

5 1/2" Bunny in white from Just Because Cards
5 1/2" Bunny-s in orange from Just Because Cards
2 1/4" Thinking in pink from Don Juan
2 1/4" shadow Thinking in white from Don Juan
2 1/4" Cup of Tea in brown from Don Juan
2" real dial size phrase Father in brown from Wild Card

Glue your orange and white base together to form your card.  Then glue your phrase together and glue this to the front of your card.  On the inside glue the Father's Day phrase and attach your gift card.

I think the front matches the Dunkin' Donuts logo pretty well!

Click here to see last years Father's Day Card. 

Happy Father's Day everyone!

You're Rad Father's Day Card

This is a great Father's Day card for a dad who's a gardener at heart.  Here's how:

Supplies:

Cricut Machine or access to one such as in a scrapbooking store
Cartridges - Just Because Cards & Wild Card
Card stock paper [red, dark green, white, brown, light green]
Craft glue


Directions:


Cut one of the following


5 1/2" Radish in dark green from Just Because Cards
5 1/2" Radish-s in brown from Just Because Cards
5 1/2" word Radish in light green from Just Because Cards
5 1/2" layer-1 Radish-s in light green from Just Because Cards
5 1/2" word Radish-s in red from Just Because Cards
5 1/2" layer-1 Radish in red from Just Because Cards
5 1/2" layer-2 Radish in dark green from Just Because Cards
2 1/4" real dial size phrase Father in brown from Wild Card

You will end up with pieces like this:

Glue them together and on the inside glue the Happy Father's Day.

Relocation Graduation Card

Yes, my sister is going to UCLA this fall for grad school.  She's pretty smart.  So, since she's moving to a new city I thought it appropriate to send her a congratulations-for-graduating-and-congratulations-on-getting-into-UCLA card, complete with a map of the new city she'll be living in.   

Supplies:

Cricut Machine or access to one such as in a scrapbooking store
Cartridge - Plantain Schoolbook
Card stock paper [decorative paper]
Craft glue
Blank card
Pocket map of new school location

Directions:

I had a blank card that folds in the on the edges to close that I used for my base, but you can use a regular blank card or make your own using cardstock.  To make the outside I started with the Cricut cartridge Plantain Schoolbook.  Cut 1" U C L A or the school you are making the card about using your decorative cardstock.  I made mine in all caps.  To make the city skyline I used the same cartridge and cardstock.  Make it 1 1/2" and cut, TallBall City.  Glue these to the front.  You may have to cut your skyline down a little bit to fit on your card.

For the inside, using the same cardstock as the front, cut c o n g r a t s ! in whatever size fits in your card.  Glue this to the inside.  Include a pocket map.  To close my card I included an atom ring thing (see this is why I'm not the one going to UCLA) to close the card.  Cut a 2" Italic s-blast. Glue to the front to close.

Sewing for knitting: DPN & straight needle case

I did it!  I managed to sew two more cases to match my circular knitting needle case and it didn't take me a year to do it.  After looking at many online I sort of came up with my own pattern.  It wasn't terribly hard, just a simple rectangle on top of a rectangle with sewn in slots for the needles and a flap at the top so they don't slide out.  This makes it easy to roll the case up and tie it with an extra piece of fabric so as the case fills with needles you can adjust the size with your tie.   I made two, one for straight needles and one for DPN's:

 

What a relief it is to be able to find needles when I need them.  I should have made these a long time ago.  But just when I think I'm done, now that I have some extra Loft 1800 by Moda fabric I'm considering making a knitting bag that can house my new needle cases and any knitting project I'm working on.  If I can decide on a bag pattern I'll make one because with summer here (almost) it would be so convenient to just grab a knitting bag with needles and everything and go.  Very handy with summer traveling.  For now though I'm so happy with my new cases, I finally have a place for all my grandmas knitting needles.

Sewing for knitting: Circular needle holder

This week I tackled a sewing project that's actually for knitting: a circular needle holder.  I got the pattern from Stitch 'N Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook.  It wasn't a hard project but it did take a few hours.  I'm so happy that I don't have to dig through this mess to find my needles now:

It's so much nicer to have them all lined up by size on my new circular needle holder:

 

I've never worked with printer fabric before and this gave me an opportunity to explore that.   The handles are attached with velco on the back:

If I had enough money, not to mention time to use them all, I'd make several of these to house different lengths of needles too, but for now this works and I'm so glad I took to the time to organize them.  I'd like to make two more similar needle cases, one for DPN's and another for straight needles.  Hopefully this will inspire me to get moving on those! 

Happy Memorial Day - banner and sign

 

Happy Memorial Day everyone!  We celebrated yesterday with a pig roast and lots of friends.  I made a few signs to help celebrate using my Cricut.  I used the Country Life cartridge and the banner feature, which I love by the way, to make the banner and using the extra cutouts from that I made the simple sign above.  

 

Hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend!

Corny Birthday Card

 

Ha!  I love this card!  It is simple but fun.  

Supplies:

Cricut Machine or access to one such as in a scrapbooking store
Cartridge - Just Because Cards
Card stock paper [yellow, light green and dark green]
Craft glue
Blank cards with envelopes (or make your own with cardstock)
Alphabet stamps
Stamp ink

Directions:

Using your Cricut machine and the Just Because Cartridge cut one layer 2 corn that is 11" in your light green cardstock.  Next, cut out one layer 3 corn-s that is 11" in your dark green.  To make the corn cut out one layer 1 corn-s that is 11" in your yellow cardstock.  Glue these together to make your corn stock.  I used bought blank cardstock that is just brown kraft that worked well for this card but you can also make your own card out of cardstock.  My card was approximately 5"x7".  For the inside I cut out some of the light green card stock that was a little bit smaller then my card and glued this to the inside.   Using the Cricut, cut out one 7" word corn in yellow.  Arrange this on the light green background and glue it.  With your alphabet stamps and ink stamp out "This card might be" and "but we just wanted to say, Happy Birthday" between your glued, Corny.

Mother's Day - Pitcher of Flowers card

Looking for a simple but sweet Mother's Day card to make?  This is it.  I just love how it came out!  Here's how -

Supplies:
Cricut Machine or access to one such as in a scrapbooking store
Cartridge - Country Life
Plenty of card stock paper [coordinating cream, green blue, purple and pink]
Craft glue
Blank cards with envelopes (or make your own with cardstock)
Mini and regular size brads that coordinate with cardstock colors
Sticker foam

Directions:

Using your Cricut machine and the cartridge Country Life (don't you love this cartridge? I do!), cut out one 4" pitcher in green cardstock.  Next, cut out one 4" pitchr-s in cream.  Next, cut out one 4" layer1 pitcher in pink cardstock.  Then cut out one 4" layer1 pitchr-s in blue.  Lastly, cut out one 4" layer2 pitcher in purple cardstock.  You should have pieces that look like this:

Glue your pitcher together and allow it to dry with something heavy on it so it doesn't curl.  After it is dried, apply a small piece of sticker foam to the back of it and apply that to the front of the card.  I used the foam because I love how the foam makes the pitcher pop from the card.  Around the pitcher place several brads in different shapes.  That's it! 

Check out last years Mother's Day card here.

Graduation Cap Card

Last year I made this graduation card and this year we have another graduation to celebrate.  I opted for something a bit simpler with this card but also still creative.

Supplies:
Cricut Machine or access to one such as in a scrapbooking store
Cartridge - Wild Card
Cardstock paper in three colors [White, Black & Red (or whatever school colors you need)]
Craft glue
1 gold brad
String in two colors (matching the school, I used white and red)
Bone folder
Edge scissors
Poster paint pens (optional)


Directions:

Using your Cricut machine and the cartridge Wild Card, cut one 5 1/2" graduatn in black.  Instead of folding your graduation cap into a card, cut out the top hat so it looks like above.  Next, cut out one 5 1/2" liner graduatn in red.  This will make the tassel.  I used poster paint pens to make the white streaks in my tassel because those are the school colors I needed, but you don't have to.  For the phrase, cut out one 6 1/2" phrase graduatn in read.  Next, cut out one 1 1/2" alphabet argyle, alphabet joy and twp 1 1/2"alphabet scallop in red.  This will make the '2011'.  For the card, I simply cut out one 6 1/2" x 10" rectangle from white paper and using a bone folder, folded it in half.  I used edge scissors on the corners for a fancier look.  Glue the hat, tassel and phrase to the front.  Using a brad holer or a knife, make a slit where the tassel meets the center of the hat and put your brad there.

For the inside I used a 4 1/2" x 6" red cardstock as the liner that I cut out with fancy edging scissors.  I also used the other phrase from the Cricut to say, For the Graduate, in black.  Our gift for this grad was money so I completed the card by rolling up a few bills and tying them with yarn that matched the card.  I used removable tape to apply it to the card like it was a mini diploma.

How to: Make an Easter Tree

Growing up, we always had an Easter tree around Easter which consisted of decorated chicken eggs.  I wanted to continue this tradition in our house.  We are bless with about 4-6 eggs a day from our chickens.  Lewie sells some at work, but I've been saving some of the neat ones for the past few months for our Easter tree.  I didn't want to decorate them or paint them in any way because some of them are so pretty just as is.  Each one is different.  Some are white with brown speckles, some are brown with white speckles, others short and some tall.

To make our egg tree I simply made a hole in each end of a raw egg then blew out the egg by blowing through one hole.  We cooked with the egg I blew out then I rinsed the empty egg and saved it until I had enough to add ribbons.  To make the ribbon attachment I cut several strands of ribbon and taped the two ends to a toothpick I cut in half.  Then I rolled part of the ribbon and tape around the toothpick and put it in the top hole of the egg.  Once the toothpick is inside the egg I let the toothpick slide up the egg until it stuck.  When done right the ribbon flows out of the top of the egg making a perfect hanger.  I gather some branches from our woods and used a mason jar with glass beads to make the tree.

Our Easter tree is a simple reminder of spring and how thankful I am of our chickens.

Flower Bookmark card

Wow do we have a lot of birthday's to celebrate in February! For this last one I made a neat card that actually serves two purposes. It's a card and it comes apart to be a bookmark.

Need:
Cricut Machine or access to one such as in a scrapbooking store
Cartridge - Give A Hoot, Just Because Cards
Cardstock paper in 3 colors [flower print that matches other two colors, brown, blue]
Craft glue
Bone folder
1 decorative flower brad that matches cardstock

Directions:

Start with the Just Because Card cartridge and using your flower cartstock and brown carstock cut one of each:  cookie and cookie-s.  These should be 4 1/2" large.  Next, switch to the Give A Hoot cartridge.  Cut one charm Hdgehog2 and one charm Hdgehog2-s  using your brown and blue cardstock.  Cut these at 4" real dial size.  Glue your card base together and glue your bookmark together.  Do not glue your bookmark to your card!  Once glued, cut a small slit in the upper part of your card front.  Layer your bookmark on top of this and slide your brad into place.  Secure the brad on the inside.  Now you have a nice card with a removable bookmark.

Felt Valentine's Day cards

I've always liked Valentine's Day, mostly because of the craftiness that comes with it - making Valentine's, making homemade gifts for your sweetie, and when I was young, making the very best Valentine's box for school.  This year my craftiness involved making a bunch of fast easy cards using felt and cardstock. 

Need:
Cricut Machine or access to one such as in a scrapbooking store
Cartridge - Just Because Cards
Cardstock paper in 3 colors [cream, red and pink]
Craft glue
Scissors (sewing and regular)
Ruler
Bone folder
Felt in light red
Sewing machine or pin if doing it by hand
Red thread

Directions:

Start by making your card base.  Using the Just Because Cards cartridge, a Cricut and a cream colored cardstock, cut out one radish 4 1/2".  Next, using your pink cardstock, cut out one radish-s.  This makes the scalloped base.  Using a ruler, scissors and red cardstock cut out a square smaller then your card base but bigger then the scalloped base.  Glue these together.  Then, using the light red felt, cut out a heart using sewing scissors that is big enough to fit inside of the pink scalloped cardstock.  I used my sewing machine to then sew the felt heart onto the front of the card.  You can also do this by hand.  When finished I simple wrote, Happy Valentine's Day! on the inside.

Happy $hopping money card

What to get a 17 year old? Money. That's what they want. So, I made a money holder card for someone celebrating their 17th birthday this weekend.

Need:
Cricut Machine or access to one such as in a scrapbooking store
Cartridge - Wild Card
Cardstock paper in 3 colors [white, aqua, patterned print that matches aqua]
Craft glue
Bone folder


Directions:

Using the Wild Card cartridge and a Cricut machine cut out one AllinOne that is 4 1/2" using your patterned print.  Next, using your aqua cut out one blackout AllinOne that is also 4 1/2".  To make the phrase cut out one phrase AllinOne at 1 3/4" real dial size.  Glue your inside and outside together but make sure not to glue directly around where the money slits are.  Next, glue your phrase on the side.  Add money and you have a card!

Hogs & Kisses card

Someone we know is turning 3 this week and I think he'll like the hogs & kisses card I made for him. 

Need:
Cricut Machine or access to one such as in a scrapbooking store
Cartridge - Just Because Cards
Cardstock paper in 3 colors [pink, yellow, brown]
Craft glue
Scissors
Ruler
Bone folder
Brown stamp ink
Various stamps
Brown marker

Directions:

Start this cut by cutting out one layer 1 pig in real dial size 3" using the Just Because Cards cartridge and a Cricut machine.  I used a pink cardstock for this.  Next, using a brown cardstock cut out one word pig in real dial size 3".  To make your card base take your yellow cardstock and using a ruler, scissors and a bone folder cut it to your desired shape.  I colored in an eye and feet on the pig using a brown marker and then glued it on the front of the card.  On the front I then stamped "oink" a couple of times using alphabet stamps and brown ink.  On the inside glue down your hogs & kisses cutout.

Making a family tree

This year for Christmas I made my husband a family tree.  It combines both our families into one tree; mine branching out to the right and his to the left.  It took a month of research, calling people, internet searches and then printing, organizing and taping but I finally completed it.  I got the idea from Martha Stewart's Living magazine.  The November issue had a whole section on family trees and I thought it would be neat.  I used the template on the Martha Stewart website which you can get here, had the template blown up and printed at Kinko's and then started my research.  I decided to put us in the middle of the tree, which you can see near the bottom.  Then I went up to the right are my parents, to the left are his.  From there I went straight up with each of their parents, then their parents and so on.  I was able to fit five generations.   Although the template also came with a name place template for each person I made my own in Word so I could print the name instead of hand write them.  I had the tree printed on watercolor paper so I used desktop printer watercolor paper by Burlington to print my names on.  Under each name I included date of birth and date of death.  I was able to find some of these dates with a neat website, Find A Grave, which is free.  This is a great project if you ever get the chance to make one I highly recommend it.  I learned a lot about my husbands family as well as my own and I have something that I can refer to now.  Of course, it can get very complicated but I tried to make it simple with only parents of parents listed (no brothers, sisters, cousins and so forth), but it has made me want to make a gigantic one that has everyone on it.  I'm pretty sure that would take up a whole wall through- my husband has a great uncle that has nine kids! 

How to: Make reusable Christmas wrapping paper

This size is perfect for gift cards and closes with a button

My mom started this when I was growing up: making reusable Christmas bags for presents.  It is the eco-friendly way to celebrate Christmas gift exchanges, it is economical in the long run, and it involves being crafty which is always a plus.  You don't have to buy Christmas wrapping paper, then mess with cutting and taping or the time to wrap them.  Simply make a few bags throughout each month and by next Christmas you'll have enough bags for the whole family that will last you forever.  This is a great time of year to get holiday fabrics to stock up on material too.

My mom made super fancy ones with wonderful sewn on edges and drawstrings:

My mom's super fancy reusable bags

I'm not as crafty however so mine have tended to be more simple like just two pieces of fabric sewn together on the sides and bottom with the top being the selvage edge (that way you don't have to finish it), tied together with a pretty string:

 I did make a few that are simply large pockets.  Cut the fabric in a large rectangle.  Fold the bottom of the rectangle 2/3 the way up.  Sew the sides.  Fold over the top and add Velcro or a button to close.  With these I was able to experiment with a few decorative stitches that I never get to use like my mountain stitch which looks like mountains with snow on top - prefect for Christmas!

Mountain stitch!

Christmas felt tree skirt

Last year I made this:

 

A Christmas card holder made with some left over fabric I had, complete with felt poinsettia's and felt stitched placeholders:

This year I decided we needed a tree skirt to match it:

I didn't have enough of the brown fabric left to do the entire skirt in it so I picked a felt that matched and used that.  You can find directions on how to make your own tree skirt on about a million websites so I won't go into detail how I did it, but basically all I needed was a large ruler, a marker, the felt, the fabric and a sewing machine.  Of course, as soon as I put it around the tree it became a instant cat bed:

but it does look nice under there, even with cat hair.  I plan at some point to make matching poinsettia's to put around the bottom but that will have to wait - Christmas is in a few days!